organizing strategy Archives

Oct 31

For a Stress-Free Holiday the Calendar is Your Best Friend

By Jonda Beattie Ask the Organizer How to Organize

We are definitely in the midst of the holiday season. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year are all on our radar. If you want to have a stress-free holiday, now is the time to start planning. Thanksgiving is marketed before Halloween. Christmas ads are already in full swing. New Year’s Eve champagne party ads collide with Christmas carols. And Kwanza and Hanukkah wedge ads in between, over, and under the big 3 – Turkey Day, Santa Clause, and the dropping of the crystal ball on New Year. The overlapping of holiday marketing can be very stressful. We want it all.…

Oct 17

Organizing the Pantry in 10 Minute Blocks

By Jonda Beattie How Long Will it Take to Organize X

Each October I deep clean and reorganize my kitchen. I know the holidays are right around the corner and I want my kitchen completely decluttered and ready for the extra cooking and food preparation that I do for the holidays. The first place I like to focus on is the pantry. Today I’m talking about organizing the pantry in 10 minute blocks so that it’s not overwhelming. If I can do it you can, too. The kitchen is one room that requires daily upkeep and maintenance but despite that daily care there comes a time to go beyond the wiping down…

Sep 05

Are You Ready For A Natural Disaster?

By Jonda Beattie Ask the Organizer How to Organize

September is National Preparedness Month. The 2021 theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.” While you can never be truly ready for a natural disaster, you can be somewhat prepared. Some of us might be tempted to think, “I don’t live in an area prone to natural disasters. It will never happen to me.” As someone who was once ordered to suddenly leave their house due to the possibility of a tree crashing on top of it, I can tell you that we all need to be prepared for a disaster. Natural Disasters Can…

Aug 08

Organizing in 10 Minute Blocks: The Laundry Room Shelf

By Jonda Beattie How Long Will it Take to Organize X

Once a year I deep clean and reorganize my laundry room. Part of the process is to take a hard look to see what I am storing on my laundry room shelf. It’s a scary thought, I know, but since I only do it once a year, I can handle it! The maintenance during the year is mainly keeping the floor clean and restocking supplies. Now it has been a full year since I worked in this area beyond maintenance, and it is time to re-evaluate the space. I have open shelving in my laundry room, and it is a…

Jul 18

teaching kids responsibility making a bed

5 Fun 10 Minute Tasks for Teaching Kids Responsibility at Home

By Diane Quintana How Long Will it Take to Organize X

There’s always lots to do to take care of your home. Involving your kids in some tasks is a great way to begin teaching kids responsibility at home. It also builds your child’s self-esteem and will help to the complete your list of household tasks. There are a several things to do as you give your kids tasks. Tell them about the task Explain how to complete the task Show them how to do the task Then walk away and let them do it These are very important points to remember. If you follow your kid around supervising them as…

May 11

5 Components of Planning a Party You Will Enjoy

By Diane Quintana Ask the Organizer How to Organize

I love to give a party and have I ever been missing them this past year! There are 5 components to planning a party so that you will have a fun time along with your guests. Now, I am feeling hopeful that I can once again plan a party but on a smaller scale (for this year at least). When planning a party, the five components I embrace are the guest list, date, theme, menu, and location. Guest List: This is a key component. I love to invite a diverse group of people who will enjoy each other’s company. Usually,…

Apr 27

Something is Better Than Nothing

By Jonda Beattie How to Declutter: Use Simple Strategies

Have you ever been told that doing something is better than nothing? This expression applies to almost every circumstance you may come across. Below is a scenario that occurs frequently in my house. I wonder if it has happened to you? A Dinner Party You just prepared a fantastic dinner for a couple with whom you enjoy spending time. The food was fantastic. The company was great and the bottle of wine they brought was simply perfect. They leave about 9:30. You are feeling happy and replete. Then you go into your kitchen and see the natural disaster that has…

Mar 23

The Best Reason to Incorporate Laughter into Your Organizing Sessions

By Diane Quintana How to Declutter: Use Simple Strategies

I love to laugh and bet you do too! In fact, I always smile at people when I’m walking outside and find that they smile back at me. It makes me feel really good when that happens. Generally speaking, I’m a happy person and tend to look for the bright side in every situation. Because of this I find that incorporating laughter into organizing sessions is one of the strategies I can use to help my clients make lots of progress. Let me give you the best reason to use laughter. Right now, I’m visiting my son and his family.…

Mar 16

Organizing in 10 Minute Blocks: Coat Closet

By Jonda Beattie How Long Will it Take to Organize X, How to Declutter: Use Simple Strategies

Coat closets, if you are lucky enough to have one, can become a dumping ground for items without an immediate home. You can shut the door and put it all out of sight – at least until you open it to hang a guest’s coat. Since the closet is used for guests’ coats as well as your own stuff, it should be tidy, functional, and well organized. My Coat Closet My coat closet holds coats, jackets, sweaters, a couple of tablecloths, and a bag of bags on the rod. The shelf holds hats, gloves, lint cleaner, a flashlight, and a…

Feb 16

Organizing in 10 Minute Blocks: Chest of Drawers

By Jonda Beattie How Long Will it Take to Organize X

You can accomplish more than you think in just ten minutes. In fact, Diane Quintana and I recommend using ten-minute blocks of time to take care of many routine household tasks. Today my 10-minute task is the top of my chest of drawers. The chest of drawers in the picture is in my spare bedroom. The door to this room is always open so as I walk down the hall, I see this chest of drawers every day. The “stuff” that has gathered here has appeared within the last month. There’s no question where it came from and now it…

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